Career and Education Opportunities for Sound Engineers in Orlando, Florida

Sound engineers can find both educational opportunities and jobs in the Orlando, Florida area. Currently, 970 people work as sound engineers in Florida. This is expected to grow by 15% to 1,110 people by 2016. This is better than the nation as a whole, where employment opportunities for sound engineers are expected to grow by about 6.3%. In general, sound engineers operate machines and equipment to record, synchronize, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects in sporting arenas, theater productions, or movie and video productions.

Sound engineers earn approximately $16 per hour or $35,030 annually on average in Florida. Nationally they average about $22 per hour or $47,490 per year. Compared with people working in the overall category of Media Technical, people working as sound engineers in Florida earn less. They earn more than people working in the overall category of Media Technical nationally. Sound engineers work in a variety of jobs, including: special effects designer, public address systems mechanic, and mixing technician.

There are two schools within twenty-five miles of Orlando where you can study to be a sound engineer, among fifty schools of higher education total in the Orlando area. The most common level of education for sound engineers is a post-secondary certificate. You can expect to spend a short time studying to be a sound engineer if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Sound Engineer

Sound Engineer video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

Sound engineers report equipment problems and insure that required repairs are made. They also assemble and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances; tear down equipment after event completion. Equally important, sound engineers have to record speech and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment. They are often called upon to regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles. They are expected to mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards. Finally, sound engineers get ready for recording sessions by performing efforts such as selecting and setting up microphones.

Every day, sound engineers are expected to be able to note differences between sounds as they change tone and volume. They need to focus on a single sound in a noisy environment. It is also important that they understand what others are saying to them even in a noisy environment.

It is important for sound engineers to talk with producers and others to establish and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film. They are often called upon to reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment. They also synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles. Somewhat less frequently, sound engineers are also expected to keep logs of recordings.

Sound engineers sometimes are asked to separate instruments and other sounds, and combine sounds later during the mixing or postproduction stage. They also have to be able to develop musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects or film postproduction and keep logs of recordings. And finally, they sometimes have to regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.

Like many other jobs, sound engineers must be thorough and dependable and be reliable.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Orlando include:

Audio Visual Technician. Set up or set up and operate audio and video equipment including microphones, sound speakers, video screens, projectors, video monitors, recording equipment, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, and related electronic equipment for concerts, sports events, meetings and conventions, presentations, and news conferences. May also set up and operate associated spotlights and other custom lighting systems.

Broadcast Technician. Set up, operate, and maintain the electronic equipment used to transmit radio and television programs. Control audio equipment to regulate volume level and quality of sound during radio and television broadcasts. Operate radio transmitter to broadcast radio and television programs.

Camera Operator. Operate television, video, or motion picture camera to photograph images or scenes for various purposes, such as TV broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.

Technical Director. Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Sound Engineer Training

Audio Recording Technology Institute - Orlando, FL

Audio Recording Technology Institute, 4525 Vineland Rd Ste 201B, Orlando, FL 32811-7231. Audio Recording Technology Institute is a small school located in Orlando, Florida. It is a private for-profit school with primarily less-than 2-year programs and has 121 students. Audio Recording Technology Institute has a less than one year program in Recording Arts Technology/Technician which graduated fifty-eight students in 2008.

Full Sail University - Winter Park, FL

Full Sail University, 3300 University Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32792-7429. Full Sail University is a medium sized university located in Winter Park, Florida. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 2,318 students. Full Sail University has an associate's degree program in Recording Arts Technology/Technician which graduated 1,064 students in 2008.

Certified Broadcast Networking Technologist:
This certification is designed for persons who wish to demonstrate a basic familiarity with networking hardware as utilized in business and audio/video applications in broadcast facilities.

Certified Broadcast Radio Engineer :
The candidate for Certified Broadcast Radio Engineer must have five (5) years of suitable experience in broadcast engineering or related technology and must achieve a passing grade on the proficiency examination.

Certifed AM Directional Specialist:
The SBE Program of Certification designed the AM Directional Specialist Certification to help evaluate an individual's ability to perform the necessary tasks to keep facilities operating properly.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Orlando, Florida

Orlando, Florida photo by A3RO

Orlando is situated in Orange County, Florida. It has a population of over 230,519, which has grown by 24.0% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Orlando, 91, is below the national average. New single-family homes in Orlando are valued at $217,400 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, three hundred forty-eight new homes were built in Orlando, down from six hundred twenty-two the previous year.

The three big industries for women in Orlando are accommodation and food services, health care, and educational services. For men, it is accommodation and food services, construction, and arts, entertainment, and recreation. The average travel time to work is about 25 minutes. More than 28.2% of Orlando residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 8.3%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Orlando is 11.1%, which is less than Florida's average of 11.3%.

The percentage of Orlando residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 40.2%, is less than both the national and state average. Church of Scientology of Orlando, Church of the Holy Spirit Episcopal and Metropolitan Community Church-Joy are some of the churches located in Orlando. The largest religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist Church.

Orlando is home to the Dubsdread Country Club and the Conway Center as well as Mayor Carl Langford Park and Sunshine Park. Shopping centers in the area include Lake Conway Woods Shopping Center, Colonial Plaza Mall and Coytown Shopping Center. Visitors to Orlando can choose from Blue Nile Hotel Liquidators, Clarion Hotel Universal and Buena Vista Suites for temporary stays in the area.